Class : 11th

Subject : English-2
Chapter : 5
Chapter Name : The Ailing Planet - The Green Movement’s Role

Q1 Notice these expressions in the text.

Infer their meaning from the context.
a holistic and ecological view
inter alia
sustainable development
decimated
languish
catastrophic depletion
ignominious darkness
transcending concern

Answer. A holistic and ecological view - It refers to the view that calls for the preservation of
the planet. The holistic and ecological view refers to understanding the importance of earth'S
resources and environment for the future generations. Sustainable development — A balanced
development that meets the needs of the present while taking care of the needs of the future
generations.
Languish — lot of species are neglected or go unnoticed
ignominious darkness — disgrace or dishonour as has knowledge about them or is enlightened
about them
inter alia — among other things
decimated — to reduce drastically in number
catastrophic depletion — a disastrous and harmful reduction in the number of something
transcending concern — a concern that surpasses generation. boundaries. It is not only about
the present but also about future; not only about people but also about the planet.

Page : 43 , Block Name : Nani Palkhi vala

Q1 Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’.

Answer. The lines that support the title of the chapter are given below.
"The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health."
"Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished
landscapes and ailing environment? "
...the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is Critical' in many of the eighty-eight
countries investigated”.
Page : 47 , Block Name : Understanding The Text

Q2 What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka,
Zambia, signify?

Answer. The notice signi es that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of
environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened.

Page : 47 , Block Name : Understanding The Text

Q3 How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?

Answer. There are four principal biological systems of the earth. These systems are sheries,
forests, grasslands and croplands. However, due to the increasing demand of human beings to
such an 'unsustainable' extent. the productivity of these systems is being hampered. The
excessive demand results in deterioration and depletion Of these resources. A country where
protein is consumed on a large scale, over shing is common, which leads to the collapse of
sheries in that area. Grasslands have been turned into deserts and production of crops is
decreasing. The forests are destroyed in large proportions to obtain rewood. Depletion of
tropical forests has also led to the extinction of several species.

Page : 47 , Block Name : Understanding The Text

Q4 Why does the author aver that the growth of world population is one of the strongest
factors distorting the future of human society?

Answer. Overpopulation is one of the strongest factors responsible for a nation's poverty and
unem oyment. It disturbs the earth' principal biological systems leading to degradation of
environment. The author highlights the problem Of over-population ty pointing out the
mental set-up Of the poor who feel more children means more workers to earn money. They
do not realise that more children only means more unemployed people. He argues that
development is the best contraceptive, which includes spread of education, improvement of
health and rise in income. Spread of education leads to awareness among people, which in
turn results in a fall in the 'fertility' rate. The author makes a comment which emphasises the
never ending circle of population and poverty by asserting that the choice is really between
control Of population and the perpetuation of poverty'

Page : 47 , Block Name : Understanding The Text

Q1 Discuss in groups of four

1. Laws are never respected nor enforced in India.
2. “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished
landscapes and an ailing environment?”
3. “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our
children”.
4. The problems of overpopulation that directly affect our everyday life.

Answer. 1. India, the biggest democracy in the world is condemned for its easy attitude
towards laws. Laws are constituted but never respected nor enforced in our country For
instance, the Indian Constitution mentions that casteism, untouchability and bonded labour
shall be abolished; however, these evils ourish barefaced even today. The author points out
that Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, propounds that the State shall endeavour to
protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and Wildlife Of the
country". However. little is done in favour Of this, What we see is a near “catastrophic
depletion” of forests over the last four decades Forests are disappearing over the decades at
the rate of 3.7 million acres a year Areas that are of cially designated as forest land, in reality,
are treeless. The actual loss of forests is eight times the rate pointed by the government
statistics.

2. As we learn in the text, the rst Brandt Report raised the above mentioned question about
the deteriorating condition of the planet. Earth is like a:
• patient in declining health'. The depletion of forests, grasslands, sheries and croplands are
the result of excessive demand for resources. Overpopulation has led to a severe strain on the
health of our planet, We must realise soon that in this "Era Of Responsibility”.
• it is solely our duty to preserve our planet. We must realise that the earth belongs as much to
the future generation as much to us. Rather making it our property, we should do our best to
preserve it for the generations we have borrowed it from".

3. Over the decades, a change has come in the perception of the people in respect to the
planet. The human perception has shifted to a
• holistic and ecological view of the world'. Earth is a living organism that has limited
resources. These resources will not last forever. The earth has its metabolic needs that require
to be preserved The need of the hour is:
• sustainable development" which propounds the need of meeting the needs of the present
generation without compromising with those of future generations. The present problems are
not necessarily fatal for us but they are a ‘passport for future'. This is the "Era of
Responsibility' that calls for a responsible action from us. we must realise that the earth
belongs as much to the future generation as much it belongs to us.

4. Overpopulation leads to the issues of poverty and unemployment The vicious circle of
population and poverty will continue unless the root cause i.e. population is taken care of. It
hampers the development of a country. It leads to the consumption of the natural resources at
a much faster rate. The fossils consumed. the resources depleted, the forests cleared the heat
produced, the global warming caused are all the repercussions of the fast-growing population.

Page : 47 , Block Name : Talking About The Text

Q1 The phrase ‘inter alia’ meaning ‘among other things’ is one of the many Latin expressions
commonly used in English. Find out what these Latin phrases mean.
1. prima facie
2. ad hoc
3. in camera
4. ad in nitum
5. mutatis mutandis
6. caveat
7. tabula rasa

Answer. 1. prima facie means 'at rst sight, closer inspection'

2. ad hoc means 'for the speci c puq»se, case, or situation at hand and for no other'
3. in camera means 'in secret, in private'
4. ad in nitum means 'to in nity, having no end
5. mutatis mutandis means 'changing ?only those things which needs to be changed, Only the
necessary changes having been made
6. Caveat means 'a warning or caution'
7. tabula rasa means 'blank slate', 'without any prior experience or knowledge'

Page : 48 , Block Name : Thinking About Language

QI Locate the following phrases in the text and study their connotation.
1. gripped the imagination of
2. dawned upon
3. ushered in
4. passed into current coin
5. passport of the future

Answer. 1. gripped the imagination of: received much attention

2. dawned ugnn: realised it for the rst time
3. ushered in: began the new idea
4. passed into current coin: hak been brought into use
5 passport of the future: a thing that makes something possible or enables one to achieve it

Page : 48 , Block Name : Working With Words

QII The words ‘grip’, ‘dawn’, ‘usher’, ‘coin’, ‘passport’ have a literal as well as a gurative
meaning. Write pairs of sentences using each word in the literal as well as the gurative sense.

Answer. 1. grip:
a) She was excellent during the rock-climbing session. She has a good grip
b) The movement Of 'India Against corruption has the minds Of Indians.

2. dawn:
a) The day dawned With a clear sky.
b) Suddenly, the idea dawned on him.

3. usher:
a) The waiter ushered them to their seats.
b) The Green Movement ushered in a new era of awareness.

4. Coin:
a) I have ten coins of Rs. 5.
b) The term was coined by a famous *Philosopher.

5. passport:
a) He has just got his passport to visit his uncle in the USA.
b) Education is the passport to a future.

Page : 48 , Block Name : Working With Words